The EU’s CSDP operation in the Red Sea, Eunavfor Aspides, announced on Tuesday 3 September that the private companies responsible for the salvage operation of the Greek-flagged vessel MV Sounion - who had requested the protection of the tugs by Aspides - had concluded that “the conditions were not right to carry out the towing operation and that it was not safe to proceed with the operation”.
“Alternative solutions are now being explored by the private companies”, said the EU mission on X.
Aspides was to facilitate efforts to avoid an environmental disaster, as the vessel was carrying a large quantity of crude oil. “At present, several fires are still raging on the ship’s main deck” but “the vessel remains anchored without drifting and there is no visible sign of an oil spill”, the operation said on X on 2 September.
Aspides resources have been involved in protecting the tugs since 1 September.
The operation was carried out at the end of August to rescue the crew of the tanker following an attack off the coast of Yemen (see EUROPE 13467/18). (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)